Vandurai Nathar Temple / திருவெண்டுறை நாதர் கோவில் / மதுவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Tiruventhurai / Thiruvanduthurai, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 229^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and the 112^th Shiva Sthalam on the south side of the River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called “Vendurai” during the Thevaram period and is now called “Vanduthurai” and “Vanduthurainathar Thirukovil”.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kottur.

நம்பர்மகிழ் திருஆரூர் வணங்கிப் போந்து

        நலம்கொள் திருக்காறாயில் நண்ணி ஏத்திப்

பைம்புனல்மென் பணைத்தேவூர் அணைந்து போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருநெல்லிக்காப் பணிந்து பாடி

உம்பர்பிரான் கைச்சினமும் பரவித் தெங்கூர்

        ஓங்கு புகழ்த் திருக்கொள்ளிக் காடும் போற்றிச்

செம்பொன்மதில் கோட்டூரும் வணங்கி ஏத்தித்

        திருமலி வெண்துறை தொழுவான் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

ஆதியன் ஆதிரையன் அனலாடிய ஆரழகன்

பாதியொர் மாதினொடும் பயிலும் பரமாபரமன்

போதிய லும்முடிமேல் புனலோடுஅர வம்புனைந்த

வேதியன் மாதிமையால் விரும்பும்இடம் வெண்டுறையே

.........திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                         -“தென்கூட்டிப்

போய் வண்டுறை தடமும் பூம்பொழிலும் சூழ்ந்தமர்

ஆய் வெண்டுறை மாசிலாமணியே”

..... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Madhuvaneswarar, Sri Barmeswarar,

                  Sri Bramapureeswarar, Sri Vendurainathar.

Consort    : Sri Sathyathaayathakshi, Sri Brahathambal,

                  Sri Vel Nedunganni.

Some of the Salient features of this temple are……

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar as Rishabandhikar (keeping a hand on Rishabam) in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam  Madhabhotha Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Natarajar Sabha, Chandikeswarar, and Ambal Sannadhi and Pichadanar. Ambal sannadhi is in the artha mandapam facing south, and Ambal is in a standing posture.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. An open mandapa was built around the sanctum at a later date.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century, and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and later extended by the Vijayanagars and maintained by Nattukottai Nagarathars.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Birungi Munivar worshiped Lord Shiva by passing between Lord Shiva and Parvati (in some legends, he made a hole in Shiva, and since there was no gap between Lord Shiva and Parvati), without worshiping Ambal. Angered, ma Parvati cursed Brunki to become and Vandu/bee. Hence, Lord Shiva obtained the name of “Vandurainathar. It was mentioned in the old texts that “Vandu reengaram/bee sound” can be heard by placing the ear on the Komuga. Nowadays, the same is not observed. 

It is believed that Vidyadhara, Brahma, Dhuruvan, and Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on  Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thaipoosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The landline number +91 4367294640 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

The town bus from Mannargudi to Veeraki passes through this place.

The town bus from Mannargudi to Sethangudi also passes through this place.

On the bus route from Mannargudi to Thiruthuraipoondi, get down at the “Veeraki” diversion road.

On Mannargudi to Thiruthuraipoondi, get down at “Vadivaikal” and from there the temple is 2 km.

About a km from Mazhavarayanallur & Thattankovil.

The temple is 11 km from Mannargudi, 20.7 km from Thiruthuraipoondi, 24 km from Thiruvarur, 50 km from Thanjavur, and 322 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Mannargudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---